Avatar

Surprisingly, James Cameron’s new blockbuster taught me a lot about myself.

They say that film is a powerful medium. But when was the last time you continued to think about a movie days after you saw it? Well it just happened to me after having seen James Cameron’s new film Avatar.

I’ve been thinking about Avatar for days.

Avatar tells the story of Pandora, a distant planet in the year 2154 where there is a conflict between human colonialists who are mining Pandora’s resources because they have exhausted earth’s, and the indigenous inhabitants called the Na’vi who are trying to expel the foreigners.

The film follows Jake Sully, a former marine who is paralyzed during combat on Earth. His twin brother was working for the Avatar Program on Pandora which constructed genetically engineered human-Na’vi hybrids that allow the humans to control these “avatars” with their minds while their own bodies sleep. An avatar can only be controlled by a person who shares its unique genetic material and when Sully’s twin brother dies, he is asked to join the squad as he is the only one who has the genes to control that particular avatar.

On his first assignment, Jake’s avatar gets lost and is attacked by a gang of dangerous creatures. It looks like he might not make it until he is saved by a female Na'vi named Neytiri. While her people fear outsiders, Neytiri feels like there is something different about Jake – something special. So she takes him to the Na'vi Hometree, the spiritual and geographical home of her clan. The Na'vi then decide to teach Jake about their culture.

But back at his base, Jake is ordered by Colonel Miles Quaritch to initiate a diplomatic mission of sorts to obtain the trust of the Na'vi tribe and is given three months to convince them to abandon their Hometree, which sits above a large deposit of unobtainium – the valuable substance that the humans are mining. As Jake learns the way of the Na'vi, he gradually finds himself caught between the military-industrial forces of Earth and a new found love for his adopted home and people. In fact, Jake is successfully initiated into the tribe after passing the Omaticaya rites of passage to become a man.

(Spoiler alert!) But unfortunately, Jake’s three months are up and he has not convinced the Na’vi to abandon Hometree. Colonel Quaritch leads a military campaign and destroys the Na’vi’s beloved home. The Na’vi are devastated and when they find out that Jake is really a human who knew of the plan, they are furious and abandon him. Faced with a decision of fighting with his race, the people who are destroying Pandora and wiping out the Na’vi or his newfound tribe whom he has come to love, he chooses the Na’vi and leads them in a revolt against Colonel Quaritch. With the help of the Na’vi, the other tribes on Pandora, and even all of the Pandorian wildlife, Jake is successful in fending off the attack and sending the human mission home.

Finally, Jake decides that he has become more Na’vi than human so he agrees to have his soul transplanted from his human body into his Na'vi avatar at the “holy” Tree of Souls. As in all good Hollywood films, Jake ends up marrying Neytiri, the Na’vi princess who discovered him three months prior.

Avatar and My Jewish Connection

So why did this movie get me thinking so much? Of course there are some not so subtle social messages in the film: we human beings are not taking enough care of our planet; our insatiable capitalist drive is going to get us in trouble; first world countries are harming third world countries by taking their natural resources; there are spiritual forces in the world that are powerful and being overlooked by our materialistic society. We get it. But that’s not what’s keeping me up at night.

I feel that in some small way this film is about me.

I grew up in Jewish family that didn’t have a whole lot to do with Judaism. Sure we made the pilgrimage to synagogue on the High Holidays and ate matzah on Passover but that was about it. And I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that, until I spent a year studying in Israel.

Like Jake Sully, what I saw made me reconsider the way I had been living my life up.

It was in Israel that I was introduced to a Judaism that I had never seen before, one that was spiritually fulfilling and intelligent. Like Jake Sully, even though I was in Israel for a year to objectively study the people of Israel and their “ways,” what I saw made me reconsider the way I had been living my life up until that point. Did I want to continue leading a life focused heavily on the material with little regard for the spiritual? Did I want to continue leading a life which relegated a tradition of thousands of years to a three times per year chore? Or did I want to make a significant change in my life?

As Jake Sully demonstrated in Avatar, change is hard. Rethinking your life’s goals is hard. And telling the people that have been with you for years that you want to be a different person may be the hardest of all. But if you believe in what you are doing, it becomes something you simply have to do.

That’s what happened to me. I adopted some new ways and beliefs. Becoming a “new person” was difficult for some of my friends and family, but as the years have gone by, I realize that it has been worth it. My life is focused on both spiritual and material things, but I have a clear sense of priorities. But perhaps more importantly, I am now a member of a new “tribe”--- one that is deeply connected to the hundreds of generations of Jews before me by virtue of the daily practice of Jewish study and ritual. And as I begin to raise my children, I know that they too will be another link in that chain, a chain that will connect to countless generations for years to come.

Visitor Comments: 36

(36)
Anonymous,
February 7, 2010 2:39 AM

Home Tree=Beit HaMikdash

What most resonated with me was the attack on HomeTree. Seeing the natives wail and tree to flee as their home, the center of everything for them, was in flames. I thought of the destruction of the Temple and what must have been like, and perhaps how it still is.

(35)
Chana,
February 5, 2010 7:15 PM

As a convert to Judaism, Jake's final transformation into a full-fledge Na'vi reminded me so much of my own conversion--when you absolutely feel like you don't belong to your original family/religion/"race" and must make the final transformation into what you know--your heart and soul knows--is right. I never for one second thought of the humans as Israelis and the Na'vi as Palestinians, but there maybe a million other readings that can be given to this movie, and I was actually pleasantly surprised by this blockbuster film. Ultimately there is a subjective part of viewing/reading/hearing any type of art.

(34)
Cedric Levy,
January 16, 2010 11:03 AM

Avatar should prick our conscience

Gideon thinks only about himself. I was more disturbed about the way people (colonialists) have maltreated and slaughtered natives in many countries to exploit the wealth on which these people were living. The red-indians of America are but one example.

The way James Wall from Christian Century magazine sees it...
"...Wall is unrepentant, and now he has blogged that the new science fiction movie Avatar is a metaphor for ostensible Israeli oppression of Palestinians, as well as American imperialism overall."
"Wall smilingly concluded. “Obama has seen the movie [Avatar]. He also knows the right thing to do in Gaza, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is time to rally the public to make this consummate politician do what he knows, deep down, is the right thing to do.”
The point of this being...don't put too much meaning into a stupid movie (especialy one from the PC age)

(32)
Anonymous,
January 5, 2010 5:11 PM

Hamayvin yavin

It's all there if one takes the time to look:
The Tzittzit connection
"I see you" (remember the midrash of the facing angels on the original ark)
Their Gan Ayden with the aytz hachayim/aytz hadaat)
The name of their deity
The victory of the few over the many
David and Gliath (just a stone's throw)
The midrash on G-d telling Adam to care for the planet
The name na'vi
Remember G-d gives what we need, not necessarily what we ask for.
Kohl asher tomar aylecha Sara, shema bekolah.
The body dies, but the soul returns to its orig. source.
The (kehillah) minyan praying with total kavanah
I've just listed a few observations; but im tirtzu, ayn zu stam agadah.
One has to wonder if Cameron had a Jewish consultant?!

(31)
Felicity Reid,
January 4, 2010 2:13 PM

Artistically brilliant with several facets of how our spirituality resonates with a core hunger for truth and reality.

Went to see Avatar Boxing Day in Australia with family. Don't get to theatres much these days but really enjoyed the 3D aspect of this movie with its incredible images of "a very different" way of life on another planet that was not too unbelievable to be dismissed as purely fantasy or sci-fi. Many of its themes relate to huge issues we are challenged with today -whether personally (as in being misunderstood amongst colleagues, "crossing the line" regarding "faith" etc.) and also planet issues- "world government" policies driven by short term financial gain- survival of the strongest, rather than appreciation of our place in God's order, His heart for mankind and our ultimate accountablitiy to Him. I hope this film helps many to keep thinking and spark a "fire"regarding eternal priorities, to acknowledge the one true God - our Creator and appreciate the real provision He has made to connect personally. Hopefully the sequel will continue to develop "goodness" as a virtue to be respected and sought after.

(30)
Shlomo B,
January 4, 2010 4:39 AM

Avatar, Tsitsiit and the Tree of Life

I came across Gideon's compelling story in a search for possible Jewish connections to the blockbuster movie Avatar. I didn't find any. There may be something in the name of the Navi (prophet in Hebrew) or in the simiilarity of the name used for their "g-d", but that was it. However, on Shabbat morning I sat with my tsitsit (fringes) gathered together in preparation for reciting the Sh'ma and a different and very Jewish perspective came to mind regarding the movie. The Navi had a sort of tsitsit as well. Theirs were special fibers in their braids and when touched them to their "tree of life" they came to connect with their ancestors and the entirety of their spiritual history. This is, in fact, is what we strive to do with a combination our tsitsit and kavanah (spiritual intent) and we should only pray to be as successful as the Navi of Pandara appeared to be. An excellent movie and if there is not a Jewish connection there should be one.

(29)
Menachem Isakov,
January 4, 2010 3:15 AM

I see you, I feel you I know you.....

We are all ONE!

(28)
jim,
January 3, 2010 11:57 PM

avatar dances with wolves on seroids but cooler

tthats all

(27)
Anonymous,
January 2, 2010 10:35 PM

Predictable

How the story was going to turn out was rather predictable. This message about attempted material uncaring dominance over a spiritual people has been told over and over again. I did think the earth people would be defeated in less violent way. Did you notice how close their word for their god was very similar to what people believe was the way the Hebrew tetragamaton was pronounced (yud-hay-vov-hay-with the vov pronounced like a "W")? The technology was uncanny.

(26)
Yahraphah,
January 1, 2010 3:13 PM

It may be working for you, but you will have to wait on your children to share your in your understanding

Silverstone's "awakening" fueled by seeing Avatar, truly highlights the significance of change. A change of becoming more spiritual that transforms so deeply, that you are not recognized by others, but is so fulfulling within your soul and within your spirit, you only yearn for more. Jake symbolized this as he volunteered to have his soul transferred to his avatar, becoming a Na vi, in body and soul. For 15 years I have shared the transforming power of the Torah and our spiritual growth , only to see them push it aside as they "drink in" the materialism of the world while at college. They are "aware" of moving backwards and even sense their own spiritual decline, but feel so strongly they have to find their own way, they ignore it. So with prayer, patience and love, I entrust them to our Heavenly Father. So don't be disappointed when you see your children not value your understanding of spiritual growth and settle for the materialism of this world. But take this to heart; as we "awakened", so can they, and the link to the generations of the past will be reestablished again. Lastly, understand the links are continued not only by our hopes as we gain understanding, but has been purposed by the spiritual covanant made with Abraham.

(25)
Rachav,
January 1, 2010 2:42 AM

Beautiful, spiritual and inspiring

I loved this movie, I have seen it twice now, the first time I was caught up in the spectacular 3D experience and didn't really listen to the music. Jake was crippled in a war on earth, he was taken to Pandora because his twin brother had died, and they needed a genetically identical replacement.
To me the Na'vi's Home Tree was like the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, it connected them all to each other. The filmakers even created a real language for the Na'vi which I thought was very interesting. Then the greedy humans decided that their own needs entitled them to just take what was not theirs, the 'unobtainium' they just had to have, and they didn't care who, or what they hurt in the first place. The Na'vi were still connected to their Diety, when they killed an animal for food, they saw it as returning it to their Diety. Which is really very Jewish. On my second viewing I had tears streaming down my face for the destruction of their Home Tree, I also loved the little for want of a better word, 'angels' that let Naterie know that Jake was specially chosen to deliver them. Also before going out to try to save the Na'vi, Jake prayed for help. This movie is truly inspirational.

(24)
Peggy in Michigan,
December 31, 2009 3:57 PM

The movie Avatar is a soul quest for all but especially for Jews

As a child of Holocaust survivors the movie hit me in ways I did not expect and as you said, I can't stop thinking about it. I saw Avatar with my 3 kids (2 of which are teenagers). We talked about how their Bubby must have felt when all was destroyed and those she loved were murdered in Rumania. We talked about the displaced American Indians, about how Israel is ours spiritually and physically and we must do all we can to preserve our Jewishness, our People and our beloved Israel. We talked about how Jake's story is similar to Moses (in the reverse) since he is found as an adult by the Nevi (and rightfully called a baby for his misdeeds, because he lacked Nevi understanding at that point). So many rich and beautiful Jewish life lessons exist in this movie. We ar all anxious to see it again. Very deep, very heavy. It touches our neshama to wake up and realize we must preserve our connectedness to Hashem Yisbarach, but spiritually and with our actions in this world (or any world for that matter).

(23)
Pepper Jay,
December 30, 2009 3:49 PM

How true ... How True

I would never have seen Avatar (I don't usually go to movies and cartoon/action/etc are not my thing) but my 91 year old Dad wanted to see what the new "buzz" was all about. I came out of the theatre happy, tired, & disappointed. Happy because it may have been the best movie I've ever seen (particularly the character development), tired because the Imax 3-D experience brought me into the action more than I had expected, and disappointed because I'm tired of the entertainment industry infusing their politics into movies & TV as if their politics is the only "correct" politics.
But, yes, I felt the same connection as you did. I also feel I don't belong in any world ... not the secular reform Jewish world I was raised in ... and not the orthodox world that has drawn me for the past several years. Sulley's choice in the movie seems much easier than mine ... he found his mate on the other side. I wonder if I will have the courage to find mine. Thank you for the thoughts.

(22)
elisheva miriam,
December 29, 2009 11:57 PM

AVATAR AND THE LAND CONNECTION

One thing no one seems to have gotten from this movie is the Natives were the ONLY ones who knew how to CONNECT both on a Spiritual level and Physical level with this LAND.. sound familiar anyone ?? MMMM JEWS are the ONLY ones in the WORLD who can SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY connect with the LAND OF ISRAEL... a very big point in this movie.. well... I thought so anyway...

(21)
Allene,
December 29, 2009 11:42 PM

Avatar is another anit capitalist movie made by a capitalist

I agree with the comments by Anonymous. It was an entertaining movie but are we all bad people because we are progressive? We need to take care of our earth,true but why is success suddenly a bad thing?

(20)
Steve,
December 29, 2009 10:39 PM

Dances With Wolves

This reminded me of the movie, "Dances With Wolves."

(19)
beegee,
December 29, 2009 9:33 PM

Anonymous, apologist for earthlings?

Anonymous would have us believe that attacking the Na'vi was done with the intention on losing, thereby helping them develop a better society. Preposterous for several reasons: 1) Wholesale destruction and killing is the best way they could think of to raise the Na'vi consciousness? This is like saying 9/11 was the Islamic way of helping us raise ours. 2) Call me crazy but those directing the attack did not seem like social workers, therapists, social scientists, community developers or philanthropists. 3) If it were in some way meant to benefit the Na'vi, it was arrogant and chauvinistic, akin to the missionaries "teaching" the Hawaiins how to live and spreading guilt, greed, envy and smallpox in the process.
No Anonymous, what happens in Avatar is like what the Europeans did to the Native Americans - nothing benevolent about it. 300 years later and, according to the film makers, we're still doing it

(18)
Sue Liberman,
December 29, 2009 7:17 PM

Blatant hypocrisy and sickness

While I also "enjoyed" the film and felt it was beautiful to watch, I have reflected on the sick hubris of its director. Anyone given half a TRILLION dollars to make a movie is enabling something sick in our society to perpetuate. Granted he may have worked on new technology- but how many people are going to use it?...Excess waste is sick, and the lesson he was trying to tell Cameron himself was perpetuating. I wonder what his salary was, or how much of that money went into the production...So much could have been used to feed hungry here in America, or build homes for people still living in trailers in New Orleans!...

(17)
Monica,
December 29, 2009 6:50 PM

Political correct brain wash for young people.

Others have wrote it before me, the "natives" you so enjoyed are in the eyes of the political correct, producer, director and viewers, the Palestinians, nobody thinks of you more than an imperialist invader, an apartheid promoter. At least you found a Jewish message in this movie, but this is because Judaism is in your heart. How about all the young people out there who just finnished highschool, or are in the university being brain washed with the imperialist conquering white people (Jews represent them) who destroy the idilic primitive culture and mother earth? If you look at Eretz Israel on the television for the past 25 years news or Christian programs, only show Arab shepherds, Arabs working the soil with a donkey and the nice landscape of our county. It always amazed me why they don't show any of the nice achievements of Israel and Jews. But I learned why.

(16)
Anonymous,
December 29, 2009 6:38 PM

It's just a movie

I don't know how you people get all of that out of a fictional movie. The only message I get is that man keeps wishing there were other beings in the universe beside him. Therefore the popularity of science fiction movies (which I like, too.) Forget it. We are all there is. Maybe millions of years from now there will be beings on other planets but they will have emigrated from earth.

(15)
Jeffrey Reiss,
December 29, 2009 6:37 PM

Surprising Jewish references

I found the movie to be amazingly beautiful, particularly the magical flora and fauna of the forest. More significantly, what caught my attention so profoundly and deeply were the numerous references to Judaic thought and Judaism. Two overt references are Na'vi, Hebrew for Prophet, and Eyah or Aiyeh the spiritual intelligence and life force associated with the physical manifestation of the Tree of Life, a word without vowels akin to yahweh or yud kai vuv kai. Also the oneness of all things, animate and inanimate, plus the mystical response to devote, intense prayer for action on behalf of the Na'vi, against the evil forces determined to destroy them by destroyiing the Tree of Life, the source of enegy for all life and connectedness. The oneness of all things, the power of Aiyeh to influence events metaphysically, all have great similarities to deeply held Judaic beliefs. Does anyone else recall other references that were particularly aligned with Judaism?

(14)
varda,
December 29, 2009 4:22 PM

I see you, the power of women love

The most powerful message is love.
I see you is I see you as a whole. I accept ,protect,understand you.
Love is stronger than fear from unknown. Love transform,heal and change the world. Love is a bridge and it brings peace,understanding and respect
When you hold intention of love,try to be in the other person shoes see him as he sees you. forget your ego. This planet will be saved no need for war.The women is able to kiss the paralized man who doesn't look like her and he is weak -unconscious.They see that love as emotion is stronger than any bariier of race, religious.

(13)
Sabba Hillel,
December 29, 2009 3:51 PM

Avatar was missing the ending

This reminds me of a short story that I read decades ago and shows that there is one more scene missing from the end of the movie. It is set on a space station as the real fleet picks up the defeated Earth forces. The dialogue consists of two people discussing what has happened. One says to the other
‘Now that they have kicked us off the planet, they won’t be able to go back to their lotus land. They should be able to develop an actual civilization and eventually meet us as equals in space.’
‘Do you think that they will realize who we are when they meet us?’
‘No, since they think that Earth is dying, their legends will say that all the enemy have died. When they meet us, they won’t connect us with the legendary “war against the demons” that gave them their start. They won’t realize that all the “dead” demons were really avatars and that every dealing with them was conditioned to trigger the war.’
‘At least we can now restore the minds of the people so that they can resume their lives.’
‘Yes, we may have to provide “evidence” that Earth has been destroyed at some point and keep an eye on their development, but I think that in a few centuries we may be able to “discover” the planet and make “first contact”. They do have the potential to join us as equals now that they have been kicked out of their complacency.’
‘We will honor the memory of Jake Sully for having volunteered to give up his memories and become the Na’vi “hero”. At least he will be able to live happily now and the Na’vi will be steered in the right direction, even if he does not know what he is doing.'

(12)
Anonymous,
December 29, 2009 3:50 PM

Avatar is the reverse of what you found

I think that you are reading the wrong lesson into the movie even though what you did learn is good.
There is an interesting review that points out that the actual movie is a suicide fantasy by a disaffected teen. The Humans have a space station and can take out the tree at any time they want. Since they are observing the alien army forming, all they need is one missile from orbit to destroy it. They could “let” a meteorite hit and show up as “rescuers” to save the survivors and be granted the ore in gratitude. They could use their technology to appear as the aliens’ mythological heroes and be given the ore as a gift. They could even set up a site away from the tree in a location approved by the aliens and drill a diagonal tunnel to get the ore out without any alien realizing it.
The “villains” carefully attack in such a way that the aliens can win and feel that they did it all themselves.

(11)
Jerry Solomon,
December 29, 2009 3:46 PM

Fluff vs. Substance

While I enjoyed most of the film, I was often distracted by the 3D overuse. This is analagous to some of the Shuls, as they present Judaism. Alas, there is more glitz, which detracts from the essence. Peel off the rind of the orange and discover the sweetness. Shalom

(10)
Marnie,
December 29, 2009 3:45 PM

Pain of change

Thank you for your insightful reflection on Avatar. i was amazed by the film and it's a keeper in my mind. I focused more on the socio-political messages about imperialism but in the back of my mind transformation was also there.
I also relate to the difficulty of sharing change with friends and loved ones. That Jack, now changed to a Na'vi (I could not find his Na'vi name) loses most of his "friends" is a telling reality about change. Some stuck by him as he went through this major transformation - physical, emotional and spiritual - but they were in the minority.
The potential loss of friends is a reality we have to confront when we change.
Marnie

(9)
Anonymous,
December 29, 2009 3:42 PM

Great that you got that, but it sounds like the director had different intentions

You are probably one of the few who viewed the movie and got a message to become more religiously Jewish. Mazal tov!
It sounds as if the actual message is one of a typical Michael Moore-ish "capitalism and western civilization are bad, and low-tech, indigenous people are automatically good and righteous and are being oppressed and exploited by the big, bad capitalists."
That is the distorted premise that much of the world is using in its misguided sympathies with the Palestinians against Israel, as well as for fomenting anti-U.S. sentiments!

(8)
Yossi,
December 29, 2009 3:30 PM

Reality vs. Dream

Thank you for this insightful article.
Similar to the theme discussed in this article, the theme in the movie that struck me most as a fundamental theme in Judaism (besides the obvious: Eywa = G-d) was manifested when Jake mentioned at one point that he's starting to feel like he can't tell which "world" is real and which is just a dream: his regular "world" of being his own human self, or the "world" of being inside the avatar "mind/body".
Going through this earthly world or ours, we can forget that in truth we are actually in somewhat of a "dream world", the "real world" being that of the World to Come. While we may feel that our life on Earth is "real", we must not forget that the true world is the one that awaits us after we have passed through this one.
It can be confusing, similar to Jake's confusion, yet even Jake chose the true "real world" at the end!

(7)
Ayalah,
December 29, 2009 3:27 PM

Great!

This is what I call both attitude and aproach!
Thank you!

(6)
sarah,
December 29, 2009 3:04 PM

I agree with everything you said. But there is so much more. This movie is very spiritual. The holy” Tree of Souls reminded me of the tree of life in the Tora. It made me think 'this is the way Adam and Chava connected to the tree of Life. The Tree connected all of living things on earth . Death is Sad but the souls live on. The way the Na'vi connected to it with chanting and prayer is what we do in prayer to Ha'shem. Their deity hears them but doesn’t judge or take sides. It keeps balances in the world. There are so many lessons to be learned in this movie I could write pages. I saw it twice and am ready to see it again.

(5)
Pleasant,
December 29, 2009 7:28 AM

Thank you for this story.

I have a similar take on things. I have had a similar life's path. I am mostly of european and mediteranean descent, but one of the branches on my mom's side leads to a german jewish immigrant who married a cherokee woman. I have a cherokee name. And one thing I noticed in the movie was that the "language" the Na'vi speak sounds alot like cherokee. And how delightful they are blue, like Israel's flag, and how fun that the belief systems regarding the world and nature are similar in israel and the cherokee nation. Shalome. (more phonetically correct in english)

(4)
varda,
December 29, 2009 4:15 AM

reflection on Avatar

This movie left me and my 4 kids under a spell. My daughter loved the forest and try to draw it. My 2 teenagers loved it more than any other science fiction movie.I connect me being jewish more of the aspect of we need to balance like the tree of life find the middle way. There are powers of distraction, but we need to unite and protect mother earth-enviromentaly. We need to give to poor and invest in education as there won't be any plant or resources left for our kids. No man made values or belifs can stand against God creation or nature.
there is more to that movie past and future. users and givers who is savage? What is intelegence . survival of the fetus,racism/ corporation coraption....

(3)
Anonymous,
December 27, 2009 8:39 PM

DON'T TRAVEL TOO FAR

THE MAIN SIN WAS DONE AGAINST THE JEWISH PEOPLE BY FOREIGN INVADERS AND RIGHT HERE IN THE USA TO THE INDIANS.

(2)
Anonymous,
December 27, 2009 5:28 PM

Thank you :)

hi Gideon,
Thank you for the comment :)
I also enjoyed the movie, as well as your personal comment about it, I think is beautiful and very thoughtful of you. Avatar also made me wish for a better human interaction, and I totally agree with your opinion about first world countries and third world countries. That's why many third world countries wants the first world countries people out of theirs , they wish their material wealth would end so that people would leave. Like it is in the case of Algeria and the French.... Thank you again for sharing :)
Myriam

(1)
Karmen Nava,
December 27, 2009 2:45 PM

Removing Planet Earth´s Natives for Profit and Gain

The writer and producers chose another year in time and even another planet to camouflage the injustices plotted against the natives who have lived in the most picturesque environments on the earth. The suntanned natives whether in Asia, Africa, Latin America, America USA or the Polynesian Islands have maintained a simple way of life for thousands of years of not raping the land as the greedy, money hungry corporation moguls have done and continue doing.
In constructing the sky high beach hotels around the world, fishermen´s families have been moved out sometmes violently so that you and your families can have that once a year coveted vacation in the tropics.
I am glad the author is now searching the Scriptures for wisdom. Reading the Torah and the Mishle is a good way to begin.

I'm told that it's a mitzvah to become intoxicated on Purim. This puzzles me, because to my understanding, it is not considered a good thing to become intoxicated, period.

One of the characteristics of the at-risk youth is their use of drugs, including alcohol. In my experience, getting drunk doesn't reveal secrets. It makes people act stupid and irresponsible, doing things they would never do if they were sober. Also, I know a lot about the horrible health effects of abusing alcohol, because I work at a research center that focuses on addiction and substance abuse.

Also, I am an alcoholic, which means that if I drink, very bad things happen. I have not had a drink in 22 years, and I have no intention of starting now. Surely there must be instances where a person is excused from the obligation to drink. I don't see how Judaism could ever promote the idea of getting drunk. It just doesn't seem right.

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Putting aside for a moment all the spiritual and philosophical reasons for getting drunk on Purim, this remains an issue of common sense. Of course, teenagers should be warned of the dangers of acute alcohol ingestion. Of course, nobody should drink and drive. Of course, nobody should become so drunk to the point of negligence in performing mitzvot. And of course, a recovering alcoholic should not partake of alcohol on Purim.

Indeed, the Code of Jewish Law explicitly says that if one suspects the drinking may affect him negatively, then he should NOT drink.

Getting drunk on Purim is actually one of the most difficult mitzvot to do correctly. A person should only drink if it will lead to positive spiritual results - e.g. under the loosening affect of the alcohol, greater awareness will surface of the love for God and Torah found deep in the heart. (Perhaps if we were on a higher spiritual level, we wouldn't need to get drunk!)

Yet the Talmud still speaks of an obligation on Purim of "not knowing the difference between Blessed is Mordechai and Cursed is Haman." How then should a person who doesn't drink get the point of “not knowing”? Simple - just go to sleep! (Rama - OC 695:2)

All this applies to individuals. But the question remains - does drinking on Purim adversely affect the collective social health of the Jewish community?

The aversion to alcoholism is engrained into Jewish consciousness from a number of Biblical and Talmudic sources. There are the rebuking words of prophets - Isaiah 28:1, Hosea 3:1 with Rashi, and Amos 6:6, and the Zohar says that "The wicked stray after wine" (Midrash Ne'alam Parshat Vayera).

It is well known that the rate of alcoholism among Jews has historically been very low. Numerous medical, psychological and sociological studies have confirmed this. The connection between Judaism and sobriety is so evident, that the following conversation is reported by Lawrence Kelemen in "Permission to Receive":

When Dr. Mark Keller, editor of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, commented that "practically all Jews do drink, and yet all the world knows that Jews hardly ever become alcoholics," his colleague, Dr. Howard Haggard, director of Yale's Laboratory of Applied Physiology, jokingly proposed converting alcoholics to the Jewish religion in order to immerse them in a culture with healthy attitudes toward drinking!

Perhaps we could suggest that it is precisely because of the use of alcohol in traditional ceremonies (Kiddush, Bris, Purim, etc.), that Jews experience such low rates of alcoholism. This ceremonial usage may actually act like an inoculation - i.e. injecting a safe amount that keeps the disease away.

Of course, as we said earlier, all this needs to be monitored with good common sense. Yet in my personal experience - having been in the company of Torah scholars who were totally drunk on Purim - they acted with extreme gentleness and joy. Amid the Jewish songs and beautiful words of Torah, every year the event is, for me, very special.

Adar 12 marks the dedication of Herod's renovations on the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 11 BCE. Herod was king of Judea in the first century BCE who constructed grand projects like the fortresses at Masada and Herodium, the city of Caesarea, and fortifications around the old city of Jerusalem. The most ambitious of Herod's projects was the re-building of the Temple, which was in disrepair after standing over 300 years. Herod's renovations included a huge man-made platform that remains today the largest man-made platform in the world. It took 10,000 men 10 years just to build the retaining walls around the Temple Mount; the Western Wall that we know today is part of that retaining wall. The Temple itself was a phenomenal site, covered in gold and marble. As the Talmud says, "He who has not seen Herod's building, has never in his life seen a truly grand building."

Some people gauge the value of themselves by what they own. But in reality, the entire concept of ownership of possessions is based on an illusion. When you obtain a material object, it does not become part of you. Ownership is merely your right to use specific objects whenever you wish.

How unfortunate is the person who has an ambition to cleave to something impossible to cleave to! Such a person will not obtain what he desires and will experience suffering.

Fortunate is the person whose ambition it is to acquire personal growth that is independent of external factors. Such a person will lead a happy and rewarding life.

With exercising patience you could have saved yourself 400 zuzim (Berachos 20a).

This Talmudic proverb arose from a case where someone was fined 400 zuzim because he acted in undue haste and insulted some one.

I was once pulling into a parking lot. Since I was a bit late for an important appointment, I was terribly annoyed that the lead car in the procession was creeping at a snail's pace. The driver immediately in front of me was showing his impatience by sounding his horn. In my aggravation, I wanted to join him, but I saw no real purpose in adding to the cacophony.

When the lead driver finally pulled into a parking space, I saw a wheelchair symbol on his rear license plate. He was handicapped and was obviously in need of the nearest parking space. I felt bad that I had harbored such hostile feelings about him, but was gratified that I had not sounded my horn, because then I would really have felt guilty for my lack of consideration.

This incident has helped me to delay my reactions to other frustrating situations until I have more time to evaluate all the circumstances. My motives do not stem from lofty principles, but from my desire to avoid having to feel guilt and remorse for having been foolish or inconsiderate.

Today I shall...

try to withhold impulsive reaction, bearing in mind that a hasty act performed without full knowledge of all the circumstances may cause me much distress.

With stories and insights,
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